Simply enter your details in the enquiry form to start personalising your experience or if you have any questions about booking this tour.
This Pre-Trek Acclimatization Tour can be added on to any of our Treks . Proper acclimatization is really important before embarking on any Andean adventure. Our 4-day pre-trek acclimatization tour is carefully designed to not only help you gradually adjust to the altitude but, like all our offerings, get you off the beaten track and enjoy unique experiences that get you in touch with the real Peru.
Don’t have much time? Talk to your Travel Consultant about turning this into a 3-day Acclimatization Tour instead.
High quality personalized experience
Unique, off-the-beaten track routes
Experienced staff
Verified sustainability practices
$20 of every trek donated to Threads of Peru
Meals
Accommodation
Entry Fees
Transportation
Other
Remember that scans of the student card (for students) or passports (for children) need to accompany the booking in order to be eligible for the discount.
Cusco can experience every season in a single day, so you should be prepared for sun and rain, cold and hot weather! We recommend a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, sweater, rain gear or plastic poncho, winter hat or toque and gloves. In addition, you should bring:
You can also see What To Bring for our comprehensive recommendations on what to pack for a trek in the Andes. For more great suggestions, check out our blog about How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru.
Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!
Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!
Upon your arrival to Cusco, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. You will have the whole day to yourself to settle in, do some exploring, and generally let your body adjust to the high altitude. Make sure to take it easy and drink plenty of water or herbal teas.
In the evening, enjoy a scrumptious welcome dinner with your guide. During the meal, your guide will give you an overview of what to expect over the next few days, as well as for your upcoming trek.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
This morning we will set out to explore this fascinating city on foot! Cusco (originally “Qosqo”) means “Navel of the World”, and was once the heart of the Inca Empire.
During our walking tour we will wander the city’s enchanting narrow streets, visiting the Plaza de Armas, Santo Domingo Monastery (atop the legendary Q’oricancha Temple), the artisan quarter of San Blas and the lively San Pedro market.
At the end of the tour, your guide will either leave you in the Plaza de Armas to continue exploring on your own, or accompany you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
Today we have two options for travelling to the Sacred Valley, depending on your interests.
OPTION A – CHINCHERO, MARAS & MORAY
Get ready for a packed and fun-filled day visiting Maras and Moray! We leave Cusco at around 8 AM, taking our comfortable private transport to nearby Chinchero. Here we will delve into the unique weaving and natural dye traditions of the Andes at an awana wasi, a weaving house.
From here, our jaws will drop as we descend towards the Sacred Valley and are greeted by the most spectacular views of towering snowcapped mountains. These are the apus of Peru, revered mountain gods keeping watch over the fertile valley. Remember – as this is a private tour, we can stop anywhere along the way to take photos of the stunning surroundings. Just tell your guide and he or she will tell your driver to pull over at the best miradores, or lookout points.
After about 45 minutes of driving through rich Andean farmland, we reach the fascinating Moray Inca ruins, one of the most unusual and interesting in the area. A pre-Incan site also thought to have been used by the Incas, Moray is a series of circular agricultural terraces which are believed to have been an experimental agricultural station for different crop strains. We will spend about 1 hour exploring these huge amphitheatres.
From here, we continue to the community of Misminay, located close to Moray. Here, the traditionally-dressed community members will welcome you. We will have lunch around noon, enjoying a healthy and delicious meal featuring traditional Andean fare, including potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes.
From Misminay we continue in our comfortable car about 30 minutes until we reach the charming village of Maras. Straight away, we descend to the Maras salt mines – a collection of watered terraces that take salt from an underground salty stream. Locals collect the salt through a fascinating process of evaporation.
The pools and salt embankments are an incredible sight against the stunning mountain backdrop – very Insta-worthy! We’ll have about 40 minutes to spend taking in this fascinating site from the lookout point.
After perhaps picking up a few salty souvenirs, we get back in our comfortable vehicle to continue our journey down towards the Sacred Valley, until we reach our hotel just beyond Urubamba.
OPTION B – PISAC & URUBAMBA
Today we take a picturesque drive through the mountains to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which held great significance in Inca culture. The Valley has a milder climate than Cusco and we will see a succession of quaint villages, agricultural terraces, and many archaeological sites.
On the way, we will stop at Awanacancha to see llamas, alpacas and vicuñas before continuing on to Pisac where we will visit its extensive and beautiful ruins, followed by its lively tourist market.
We will have a picnic lunch in the village before continuing our journey through the Sacred Valley. Along the way, you have the option to stop at a traditional ceramics workshop where you can learn about ceramic-making techniques and purchase beautiful earthenware souvenirs.
More of a museum person? Talk to your guide about stopping at the Inkariy Museum instead – a newly built museum with a fascinating overview of pre-Columbian art and artifacts. Note: this museum visit will incur an additional charge (approximately $15 per person).
From there, we continue on until we reach our hotel, nestled in the beautiful landscape alongside the Urubamba river. Enjoy a tranquil evening relaxing in your room or strolling the gorgeous grounds, and enjoying a delicious dinner at the hotel’s on-site restaurant (not included).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tierra Viva Valle, or similar (Yanahuara)
This morning, we travel back through the Sacred Valley for about 40 minutes until we reach the hamlet of Huaran, where we will be greeted by the Munay Urpi weaving association. They will demonstrate spinning, warping and weaving, as well as dyeing yarn with natural plant dyes. Most of these plant dyes are collected locally, and you might even have the chance to help!
The weavers will dye a small amount of yarn in 2-3 different natural shades. Depending on your interest and available time, join the weavers on a short excursion to look at or collect dye plants as they are found in nature. After this Andean weaving demonstration, the group will serve a delicious home-cooked meal for lunch.
After lunch, we head back to your hotel, where you will have the rest of the afternoon to free.
Not interested in traditional weaving? Consider Chichubamba instead!
This is an excellent opportunity to explore the culture, food and traditions of everyday rural Peruvian life. The Chichubamba hands-on tour includes a series of workshops presented by community members who have received training in presentations and are experts in their field. By participating in this hands-on community tourism project, you are helping families improve their quality of life, preserve nature and foster self esteem and respect for their cultural heritage.
From your hotel, we travel back towards Urubamba and just beyond until we reach the community of Chichubamba, aiming to arrive around 10AM. We will spend the morning getting our hands dirty partaking in three 1-hour hands-on workshops. After this, we will enjoy a home-cooked meal with one of the families at the Chichubamba Agritourism project.
We will leave Urubamba at around 2:30 to head back to your hotel, where you will have the rest of the day free.
Available workshops (choose 3):
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tierra Viva Valle, or similar (Yanahuara)
Now that you’re well-acclimatized to the altitude, it’s time to start the trek! We’ll pick you up bright and early this morning and transport you to the trailhead – whether that’s Capuliyoc, if you’re heading on a Choquequirao trek, Chillihuani, for an Ausangate trek, or Mollepata for the Salkantay trek.
Meals: Breakfast
Upon your arrival to Cusco, we will meet you at the airport and start our journey towards the Sacred Valley.
As we head out of Cusco, we will enjoy a picturesque drive through the mountains to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which held great significance in Inca culture. The Valley has a milder climate than Cusco and we will see a succession of quaint villages, agricultural terraces, and many archaeological sites.
Depending on your arrival time, we can make a brief stop at Awanacancha. Here we can see llamas, alpacas and vicuñas, all camelid species endemic to the Andes and culturally significant through the centuries as pack animals and for their fleece. We will also have a chance to learn a bit about traditional weaving, a practice that dates back nearly 5000 years.
After this stop, we continue on to Pisac, where we can make a brief stop to check out its famous artisan market, grab a coffee or a bite to eat (not included).
We then continue our picturesque drive through the Sacred Valley until we reach our hotel, nestled in the beautiful landscape alongside the Urubamba river. Enjoy a tranquil evening relaxing in your room or strolling the gorgeous grounds, and enjoying a delicious dinner at the hotel’s on-site restaurant (not included).
Meals: None.
Accommodation: Tierra Viva Valle, or similar (Yanahuara)
This morning, we travel back through the Sacred Valley for about 40 minutes until we reach the hamlet of Huaran, where we will be greeted by the Munay Urpi weaving association. They will demonstrate spinning, warping and weaving, as well as dyeing yarn with natural plant dyes. Most of these plant dyes are collected locally, and you might even have the chance to help!
The weavers will dye a small amount of yarn in 2-3 different natural shades. Depending on your interest and available time, join the weavers on a short excursion to look at or collect dye plants as they are found in nature. After this Andean weaving demonstration, the group will serve a delicious home-cooked meal for lunch.
After lunch, we head back to your hotel, where you will have the rest of the afternoon to free.
Not interested in traditional weaving? Consider Chichubamba instead!
This is an excellent opportunity to explore the culture, food and traditions of everyday rural Peruvian life. The Chichubamba hands-on tour includes a series of workshops presented by community members who have received training in presentations and are experts in their field. By participating in this hands-on community tourism project, you are helping families improve their quality of life, preserve nature and foster self esteem and respect for their cultural heritage.
From your hotel, we travel back towards Urubamba and just beyond until we reach the community of Chichubamba, aiming to arrive around 10AM. We will spend the morning getting our hands dirty partaking in three 1-hour hands-on workshops. After this, we will enjoy a home-cooked meal with one of the families at the Chichubamba Agritourism project.
We will leave Urubamba at around 2:30 to head back to your hotel, where you will have the rest of the day free.
Available workshops (choose 3):
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tierra Viva Valle, or similar (Yanahuara)
Today we have two options for our return trip through the Sacred Valley back to Cusco, depending on your interests.
OPTION A – MARAS, MORAY & CHINCHERO
We will enjoy this scenic hour and a half drive back to Cusco, making a couple of stops along the way.
Reaching the Maras salineras, or Cusco salt flats, we have about 40 minutes to spend taking in this fascinating sight from the lookout point. The Maras salt flats are a collection of watered terraces that take salt from an underground salty stream. Locals collect the salt through a fascinating process of evaporation. The pools and salt embankments are an incredible sight against the stunning mountain backdrop. Warning: it can get really hot in the salineras on a sunny day!
The next stop will be the archaeological site at Moray, one of the most unusual and interesting in the area. A pre-Incan site believed to have been used by the Incas, Moray is a series of circular agricultural terraces which are believed to be an experimental agricultural station for different crop strains.
Either before or after we visit Moray, we will head to the nearby Misminay community. Here, the traditionally-dressed community members will welcome you with song and dance. We will enjoy a healthy and delicious meal featuring traditional Andean fare, including potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes.
Leaving Moray behind, we continue on towards Cusco, stopping first in Chinchero. Here, you can visit the famous market, the Colonial Church and Incan ruins, as well as have a quick stop at an awana wasi, a weaving house.
Reaching Cusco in the early evening, you will be transferred to your hotel.
OPTION B – PISAC & SACSAYHUAMAN
Alternatively, we can take the long way back to Cusco, travelling through almost the full length of the Sacred Valley from your hotel towards Pisac.
Along the way, you have the opportunity to stop at a traditional ceramics workshop where you can learn about ceramic-making techniques and purchase beautiful earthenware souvenirs. Time-permitting, you can also consider making a stop further down the road at the Inkariy Museum – a newly built museum with a fascinating overview of pre-Columbian art and artifacts. Please note: the museum will incur an additional charge (approximately $15 per person).
Arriving in Pisac, we can stretch our legs a bit before continuing up above the city to the impressive Incan ruins that tower above.
The Pisac ruins are some of the finest and largest in the entire valley. Despite the excellent condition of many of the structures, little is conclusively known about the site’s actual purpose. It appears to have been part city, part ceremonial center, and part military complex. It might even have been a royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacutec. It was certainly a religious temple, and although it was reinforced with the ramparts of a massive citadel, the Incas never retreated here to defend their empire against the Spaniards (and Pisac was, unlike Machu Picchu, known to Spanish forces).
After our tour of the ruins, we will have a picnic lunch in the village before continuing our journey to Cusco.
About 45 minutes later, we reach the city limits. The view over the city from here is incredible! A series of Incan sites line our path – Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, the Temple of the Moon and Q’enqo, among them – but we’ll visit just one, the spectacular archeological site of Sacsayhuaman.
Capping our tour just as the sun is setting, we get back in our comfortable car and head down into the city, until we reach our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
This morning we will set out to explore this fascinating city on foot! Cusco (originally “Qosqo”) means “Navel of the World”, and was once the heart of the Inca Empire.
During our walking tour we will wander the city’s enchanting narrow streets, visiting the Plaza de Armas, Santo Domingo Monastery (atop the legendary Q’oricancha Temple), the artisan quarter of San Blas and the lively San Pedro market.
At the end of the tour, your guide will either leave you in the Plaza de Armas to continue exploring on your own, or accompany you back to your hotel.
Alternatively, if you feel like taking it easy, you can relax and sleep in this morning. Wander the city’s cobblestone streets on your own, do some souvenir shopping or whet your appetite at one of the city’s excellent restaurants. This is also a great day to do some laundry! There are many full-service laundromats in the touristic centre who offer same-day services and charge just a few soles per kilo of laundry.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
Now that you’re well-acclimatized to the altitude, it’s time to start the trek! We’ll pick you up bright and early this morning and transport you to the trailhead – whether that’s Capuliyoc, if you’re heading on a Choquequirao trek, Chillihuani, for an Ausangate trek, or Mollepata for the Salkantay trek.
Meals: Breakfast
It more than met our expectations. We enjoyed meeting local people in the chocolate making, pottery and weaving community. Our driver Ever was wonderful, he cleaned the van every time we got out & was a super safe driver making us feel less anxious about the “crazy drivers” around us. We love Ever.
